11 Things You Didn't Know About The President's Limousine

December 14, 2022

The president of the United States of America is one of the luckiest guys in the world. He gets a sweet mansion, plenty of Facebook friends, a private chef and one of the coolest rides in the country. There’s plenty of listicles on the internet that boast the president’s many luxuries in life, but very few detail the cool wheels that give him the best carpool situation in the country. We have the 11 most interesting facts you never knew about the president’s limo.

It’s A Cadillac—But Is It?

The presidential vehicle is technically made by Cadillac. We know that. The classic styling of the car is all Cadillac. The logo is clearly affixed to the hood of the car. Yet, it’s not considered one since there is no other car like it made by the luxury car manufacturer. Cadillac One (also known as "The Beast") can hold up to seven people. That’s quite a party. The president often needs the extra room for the vice president, secret service, the first lady and the first kids. He can also hold important business meetings in the limo in case he’s running short on time. Sorry, this car is purely original to the POTUS, so we can’t pre-order one.

It Weighs 14,000 Pounds

One of the heaviest cars made today, the president’s limo weighs a whopping 14,000 pounds. That’s nearly three times as much as the typical car (most cars weigh around 5,000 pounds). All the extra weight is thanks to the tech, safety features, and armor built into the car. The extra weight means that the car only accelerates to about 60 miles per hour. This is why it’s not run on regular gas nor electricity. Instead, the president of the United States rides in the vehicle fueled by diesel every day. Diesel is inexpensive and more efficient for cars of Caddy One’s size and weight.

Its Official Name Is Caddy One

Technically the president can’t drive himself anywhere. In fact, he can’t ever drive himself anywhere for the rest of his life. The president will still need a driver even after he’s no longer the president. Which means that his limo is more of a caddy than an actual car. This is why the limo gets the official title of Caddy One. Despite the name, there are more than one.

Technically, the United States government needs to have a backup plan in case Caddy One is in the shop. We all remember the last time our cars broke down. We’d love to imagine being able to conjure up another vehicle at a moment’s notice to get you to our meeting on time. The backup Caddy One doesn’t have as much tech as the original, but it can stand in if there’s ever an emergency.

It’s Nicknamed The Beast Because It’s Indestructible

The president’s limo might be named Caddy One, but its nickname is the real kicker. It’s named the Beast because of its size and weight. The name is also a reference to the strength of the American president. In addition to its weight and size, the president’s limo has tons of tech, ammunition, safety features and provisions for worst case scenarios. The most important job of the president’s limo is to keep the president safe. That’s why the car was built to deflect or defuse nearly every dangerous situation the president might encounter. Rain, sleet or snow will not cause any safety issues when it comes to Caddy One. The limo also has to go through various safety screenings on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. We can’t imagine the kind of pressure that would put on his mechanic.

It Can Fly And Swim

Okay, so the president’s limo can’t technically fly on its own. Yet, it has a special plane to carry it to and from different locations the president is visiting. This way, the president can travel in luxury and safety no matter what country he is visiting. This car is one of a kind, and it’s the only car the president is allowed to travel in as long as he’s in office. This means that it needs to be able to travel anywhere the president goes. It can also swim. Or rather, the president could survive in Caddy One under water. The limo has its own supply of oxygen, so the POTUS will always be protected no matter what tragedies befall the vehicle.

It Uses Keyless Entry And Has A Cool Carphone

Keyless entry might be a newer feature on most cars, but the United States president has been enjoying this feature for years. There are no keys to get in or out of the car. The car automatically locks as soon as the president is safely inside. The driver also doesn’t need to turn a key to start the ignition. The president gets his own secure line in Caddy One to make top-secret business calls. He also never needs to worry about hacking in his limo since it has been kitted with state-of-the-art Wi-Fi technology. We can’t even begin to imagine those phone calls.

It’s More Military Than The Military

The president’s limo has so much ammunition, armor, and protection that it’s more militarized than tanks used by the military. Caddy One is encased in kevlar and has plenty of weapons should the president run into any trouble during his drive. There are grenades, first aid kits and other means of protection hidden all over the car. The secret service can easily reload their weapons in case of an emergency. The exterior of the vehicle is practically indestructible and can resist practically any explosion.

The Drivers Ain’t No Uber Drivers

We all remember that time our Uber driver took a wrong turn. How about that time the taxi driver almost drove up onto the sidewalk? Turns out that POTUS doesn’t need to deal with those kinds of shenanigans as long as he’s president. The drivers of Caddy One can easily maneuver turns and are some of the best drivers on the road. We can’t even begin to fathom hairpin turns and parallel parking. We’ve also got to wonder if they are forced to wait in line at the DMV like the rest of us.

It’s Practically Military

The military isn't the only one with access to night vision. The limo is outfitted with night vision cameras and sensors, so the driver never needs to worry about nighttime visibility. This totally trumps the rearview mirrors and cameras on our personal vehicles, doesn’t it? When the president’s limo also gets a military funeral when it is retired. Members of the Secret Service get to take turns systematically destroying Caddy One after it’s retired. They shoot at it, try to blow it up and beat it practically to death. This helps Cadillac discover what kinds of security improvements the next Caddy One needs and ensures enemies of the state don’t steal the top-secret tech.

JFK’s Assassination Changed Everything

The president’s limo didn’t always have the cool safety features it does today. Caddy One didn’t get this kind of security until after John F. Kennedy's assassination. The Secret Service realized how vulnerable the president could be in his car if he wasn’t protected. Prior to Kennedy, the POTUS could ride around in a convertible with practically no protection if he wanted to. Now, the limo is always fit with indestructible bullet-proof glass to prevent future shootings, in addition to over a dozen other safety features. It’s hard to imagine that it was not that long ago when the president could ride around without much protection.

It Doubles As A Blood Mobile With An Unreal Sound System

The Secret Service keeps a stash of the president’s blood in the trunk of Caddy One in case of an emergency. If something should happen to the president, the Secret service only needs to open up the mini blood bank to provide the best medical care any American can receive. This is probably the best example of a first-aid kit ever included in a vehicle for emergencies. The president’s limo doesn’t just provide plenty of safety for POTUS, his family, colleagues, and guests. He also gets to boogie down to his favorite tunes in the back seat. The president can play just about any of his favorite songs at the push of a button. Good thing that bulletproof glass is also soundproof.

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